Puel states Gabbiadini as Saints’ penalty taker

Southampton manager Claude Puel has revealed that Manolo Gabbiadini is to be the club’s first choice penalty taker, as reported by the Daily Echo.

Speaking to the press today ahead of Saints’ final game of the season against Stoke on Sunday, Puel confirmed that despite his miss against Manchester United on Wednesday, Gabbiadini is the man that will be taking penalties for Saints in the future.

If he (Gabbiadini) starts the game then yes if there is a penalty it will be for him. We will see.

I hope we can have a penalty and we will score the next of course because the three last were no good. It was always different players but I have confidence for the next perhaps on Sunday.

The Italian international’s penalty in the opening stages of the 0-0 draw against United set the tone for the match and was well saved by Sergio Romero, but the clear problem was that it was the third spot kick in a row that Saints had missed.

Shane Long missed one at Middlesbrough, and Dusan Tadic had missed one against Hull shortly before. The Serbian has also missed against Inter Milan in the Europa League this season.

Prior to this, Charlie Austin had a 100% record from the spot but it looks as though Gabbiadini is the man that Saints will rely on from 12-yards.